Pump for wells



Aug. 7, 1928.

J. PENROD ET AL P'UMP -FOR WELLS Filed March 23, 1926 /A//l I IL Patented` A'ug. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

f JOHN PENRODIAND ROBERT n. THoMPsoN, or OKMUVLGEE, OKLAHOMA.

`PUMP ron WELLS.

Application ,filed` March 23, 1926. Serial No.v 96,807.

This invention relates to pumping equipment for use in wells and more particularly to a means for flushing a special sand recelving chamber of the pump, so that thesand present in the chamber isA returned Vto the bottom of thewellfo'r mixing withthe fluid therein whereby the subsequent operation of vthe pump will A,carry the ,sand off 1n v suspension. f k

Our application Serial No. 696,191, filed March 1, 1924, disclosed a wellpump having a special sand receiving chambenthe bot-i tom of which may be -opened for the dumping of the sand in the special sand receiving chamber, but there is a possibility that the sand will tightly pack" 1n the chamber to form a barrier between the column of fluid. above and the opening wherebyV an edectiv'e flushing action is prevented. v l It is, therefore, an''mportant object of this invention to provide a' pumping equipment in which the sand receiving chamber may be opened at the bottom thereof and communication positively established bet-Ween the opening and the column of `'Huid above so that a portion of the fluid above may wash" down through the chamber and break down the body of'tightly packed sandftherein to bring about the effective flushin" and cleansing of the sand receiving chamber, the sand thus flushed out of the chamber being returned to the bottom of the well and subsequently pumped out with the Huid. Other objects` and ladvantages will be apparent during the coursenof the following description.

In the accompanylng drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to ,designate like parts throughout the same, y

Figure 1 is a' vertical sectional view through a pumping mechanism equipped with the improved sand pump; i i n Figure 2 is a detail sectional view illustrating the pumping mechanism in sand dumping position; n VFigure 3 is asimilar lview illustrating the parts in normal operating position;

Figure 4 is a sectionalview illustrating a i modification of the invention.

In drawing the numeral 5 designates a tubing to which a shell 6 is' connected by y `means of a bushing 7. The lower end of the shell 6 has connection withv what might bev said to be a combined connector, spring housing and valve seat 8, provided with an annular groovey 9. The annular groove 9 is e y V-shapedV in cross section and the walls of the same are adapted to be engaged by the upper edges of an annular valve 10 whereby 60 a fluid-tight connectionv is established between the members 8 and 10. The upwardly directed valve 10 is in the nature of a flange on 'the outer edges of a shoulder 11 formed on the lower end of a standing valve unit supporting member 12.

In carrying out the invention, the standing valve unit supporting member-12 has connection with the lower end of a barrel 4 through the medium of a coupling 16'.l The internal ldiameter of the barrel 14 is substanti ally the same throughout, but the external'y diameter of the barrel gradually decreases toward the upperv end thereof, so that when ythe ybarrel is loweredy slightly by a Vmeans to be fully described, a fluid passage will be formed between the barrel and thev wall of sand. The fiuid passage thus formed will allow of the movement of the fluid past the sandcollected inthe chamber definedby the lmembers 6 and .14. The movement of the fluid in contact with the'unsupported side wall of the sand will immediately break down/the tightly packed body of sand and l thereby bring about( the returnof the sand to the well. In other words, the pocket for the sand is thoroughly flushed and cleansed by the movement of the flu'j d therethru.

Before proceeding with the description of `otherparts of :the invention, it is desired to 90 emphasize thatthe working'barrel is movably positioned Within'the-shell, and when the same islowered the external taper ofthe barrel results in the formation of an annular fluid'pas'sageabout'the barrel and it wash to break down vthe body of 'tightly packed sand. 'This dumping'operation may take place several times a day cras often asv circumstances require. f

The external taper ofthe working barrel may be uniform throughout, or the `taper 'thereot andwy the remaining portion oi'A the barrel allowed to be the same diameter throughout.

The standing valve un't 'l2 is extended through the combined spring housing7 connector and valve seat 8 and Carries a standing valve unit 2O against the cage of which, the lower end of a plunger 2l may be engaged to unseat the valve l0 and thereby bring about a sand return opening and a lluid passage between "the working barrel and the packed sand through which the tiuidv maywashy to eli'ectively disintegrate the sand and cause its return to the well.

rlhe valve supporting unit 12 and the valve l0 oia the same are normally maintained in elevated position as shown in Figure 3 by a helical spring 2li- 'engaged with the underside oi the shoulder ll and mounted on a spider 2b, ,The spider is in turn mounted on thc top et a washer 28 and the washer mayv rest on. the upper end ot one ot the sections 30 ot the anchor.

llt is important to note that the eil'ective strength oit the spring 24 may be increased or din'unishcd by varying the thickness ottne washer 2S. lf the improved dumping mechanism is employed in a deep well where the column ot fluid to be more orless constantly supported is oat a substantial weight, a thick vasher 28 may be employed to increase the torce exerted by the spring. Therefore, thefstrength ot the spring will normally overcome the weightv ot the column ot fluid and will maintain the valve 10 seated. l'rlowever, when the normal stroke et the plunger 2l is intentionally exceeded by the operator, the parts will assume thev position illustrated in Figure 2 and a fluid passage will be :termed betweenthe barrel l-t and the body of sand through which the iluid may wash to break down the body et sand and thereby quickly return the same to the'well so that pumping may be resumed without a substantial loss oit fluid. Another important advantage resides in thelfact that no time is lost in pulling the tubing and other equipment to the surface tory removing the sand collected in the sand receiving chamber. lllhenthe plunger is engaged with the valve unit 2O shown in Figure 2 the weight or the plimger and the rods et the same will overcome the strength voit the spring 2li and the spring willbe compressed. The compression ot' the spring, however, is limited by the engagement oi the shoulder 1l with the upper end ot a tubular stop member 33. l` e stop member may be mounted on the spider 26. rlhis arrangement greatly protects the spring.

The gas anchor consists of the outer section 30 and an inner tubular section 38, the lower end ot the inner section 38 being above the lower end ot the outer section as suggested.

'ing said valve and said in Figures l, 2 and 3. It is shown in the drawing that the spring housing 8 has an opening et() while the inner section has an opening 4l, both ot these openings being adjacent the upper ends of the gas anchor for the passage of gas. l

Coming now tothe fluid inlet, it will be seen that the outer section may be provided with a series of openings 4G for the admission of Huid and that thev lower end et the section 38 is below the openings 46, but closer to these openings than to the lower end of the outer section 30;

In the form oi' invention shown in Figure Y 4, the valve 50 at the lower end ot' the sand receiving chamberhas a beveled contact* portion engaged with the inner edge et an annular valve seat 5l of a combined connector, spring housingand valve seat 52. The other parts of this form of the invention are .substantially the same as the form lillustrated in Figures l, 2 and 3.

In the several forms of invention illustrated the standing valves and more speciiically the cages thereof are enclosed within the working barrels and constitute striking or contact elements for engagement by the lowering mechanism, the lowering mecha.-

.nism being illustrated in the Jforms ot plungers 2l. Special attention is invited to the tact that the working barrel 'not only functions as such and as one wall of the chamber, but also as a means to space the sand inthe sandreceiving chamber from the working barrel so that fthe standing valve is at all times exposed tothe action of the plunger.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: y l

l. In a pump, the combination of a working barrel, a shell receiving the working barrel and being spaced therefrom to detine a sand receiving pocket, means movabiy supporting the barrel, and a valve ttor said pocketcmo'vably supported by said means.

2. In a pum'p,the combination eta barrel, a. shell receiving the barrel and being spaced saidV chamber, and means movably supportbarrel, one wall oit the chamber heling tilted to cnlargc the chamber toward one end.

3. in pumping equipment, a barrel, a lshell receiving the barrel and being spaced therefrom to define a sand receiving pocket, a valve for the discharge of sand from said pocket, a spring normally closing said valve and supporting said barrel in an elevated position, said barrel being provided lwith *means whereby a space is formed between the barrel and theosand when the barrel vis lowered.

4. In a pump, the combination 01"' a longitudinally movable working barrel, a ,sand discharge valve vrigidlyl connected to theretrom'to define a sand receiving chamuber, a valve for the discharge ol sand from iii) movable with the working barrel, af housing having a valve seatr adapted for engagement by said and normally seating and means limiting the compression of the spring.

5. In a pumping equipment, a shell, a combined coupling and valve seatfmember secured to the ,shell and having a groove deining a valve seat, a member having a shoulder and a valve, the valve being adapted to engage saidseat, a standing valve connected to said member', a spiing engaged with said i" shoulder to normally seat said first namedY valve, a support for said spring, and' means whereby the movement of the spring is limited. l

6. The construction set forthk in claim 5, and a barrel connectedto said member and being within said shell to cooperate with the shell in deiining a sand pocket. p y

7. In a pumping equipment, the v.combination of a shell, a member at one end portion of the shell and having a seat-a valve member having a contact portion to engage said seat, a barrel connected to said valve and being movable therewith, and a spring normally supporting said valve and said barrel in elevated position. j

8. The construction set forth in claim 7,

and means whereby the movement of thev spring is limited.

9. In a pump, the combination of afvpair of cooperating intertting tubular members spaced to define a sand receiving chamber, means whereby one member Vmay be moved out of supporting envageinent with the sand in said chamber, an a discharge valve for said chamber, one wall ofs'aid chamber being extended at a slight angle to the axis of the chamber. f y 1 10. In a pump, the combination of' a shell, a working barrel therewith in the formation of a` sand receiving chamber, a discharge valve for said chamber, one wall of said chamber being at a slight angle to the axis ofthechamber..

11. In a pump, the combination of a shell, an externally tapered working barrel therein and cooperating therewith in the forniation of a sandy receiving chamber, a discharge valve for said chamber, said externally tapered working barrel being movably mounted within the shell whereby the same may be moved lout of retaining relation tol the sand in said chamber.

12. In a pump, the combination of a shell,

a working barrel Within the shell and cooperating therewith in the formation of a sand receiving chamber, said working barrel being externally enlarged at one end and normally iii retaining relation to onek wall of the sand in the chamber, and means whereby the externally enlarged portion of said 13. In ay pump,

valve, a springwithin said housing.`

a working barrel said valveand urging'v said working barrel to an extreme position,-

'sand receiving chamber,

and open the lower end of the therein and cooperating" the other* to provide an intervening working barrelmay be vmovedA out of retaining relation totheisand in said chamber.- the vcombination of a shell, within the shell and cothe vformation of a said working barrel operating therewith in V'being externallyl enlarged at one end and normally in retaining relation to one wall of the sand Ain the chamber, means whereby the externally enlarged portionl of said :working barrel maybe moved out of retaining relation to the sand in said chambei', and a sand discharge valve associated with said working barrel.

14. In a pump, a movable support having a contact element adapted to be engagedy by a striking unit, a pair of interfitting tubular members spaced to define a sand receiving chamber, one of said tubular members be,- ing mounted on said movable support and constantly enclosing said contact element to constantly expose the same to the striking unit and to spacesand in said chamber from `said contact element.

15. In a pump, a stationary and a movable t-ubular member 'arranged one within the other to provide an'intervening sand receiving chamber, means operable by the kmovable memberto close and open the lower endv of the chamber, and V.means normally holding the movable member against movement. y

16. In a pump, a stationary and a movable tubular member arranged one withinv sandl receiving chamber, the movable mem er bethe other to provide an ntervenin ing formed to provide -a space between it and the sand on its movement with respect to the othermember, means operable to close y chamber, and means normally holding the movable meinber against movement.v

17. In a pump, a stationary and a `movable tubular member arranged one within sand receiving chamber, the movable mem er being vtapered to provide a space between it and the sand on its movement with respect`V to the other member, means operable to close and open thelower end of the chamber, and

means normally holding the movable memy ber against movement.

18.- In a pump, a stationary and a movable tubular member arranged one within the other to provide an intervening sand receiving chamber, the movable member being formed to providea space bet-Ween it and the sand on its movement in one direction'with respect to the other member, means closing the lower end of the chamber ,andl

by the movable'l member when 'f direction to open the lower operable moved in said end of the cliamber,'and means normally holding the movable member againstmovement.

19. In a pump, an outer tubular member, open the lower end of the eliamber, and an inner tubular member rspaced from the meansf normally holding the movable memouter tubular member to provide an interber against movement. l venngl sand receiving chamber, the inner In testimony whereof We aflix our signamember being Jnapered andl movable axially ture.

JOHN PENROD.

with respect to the outer member, means op- 1 ROBERT D. THOMPSON.

erable by the movable member to close and 

